Floor cleaning device, mop and mop holder



Dec. 29, 1964 z. c. VAN SCHWARTZ 3,162,387

FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE, MOP AND MOP HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.16, 1963 INVENTOR.

ZOLLY C. VAN SCHWARTZ 5% A Km ATTORNEYS 1964 2. c. VAN SCHWARTZ3,162,837

FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE, MOP AND MOP HOLDER Filed Sept. 16, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ZOLLY C. VAN SCHWARTZ JMW w, 6

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,162,887 FLQQR CLEANING DEVl'CE, MG? ANDM0? HULDER Zolly Carleton Van Schwartz, Denver, Colo, assignor toMajestic Wax Company, Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Fii-edSept. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 308,94S 3 (Ilaims. ((31. 15 -561) Thisinvention relates to a dust mop, particularly a floor mop and holdingdevice, and especially such a dust mop and holder wherein the holder isadapted for the application of liquid from the body of the holder to themop fabric for application to the floor.

The mop head construction has a direct bearing upon the appearance,performance, efliciency and maneuverability of the mop. Most mops arereadily directed for smooth operation in straight lines in an axialdirection, or in a radial direction, so long as the user continues todirect the mop in a given direction without change. When, however, theuser seeks to change the direction of the mop, excessive effort isrequired, because of the use of inefiicient control mechanisms in themop head, and the mop frequently takes an undersidable angular positionor exhibits an annoying yawing or fish-tail movement. Furthermore, priorart floor cleaning devices frequently are made of corrodible materialswhich soon look cheap and have a short service life. In addition, themeans employed in such devices for gripping the mop fabric often areinadequate for their intended purpose, and the mop fabric, much to theannoyance of the user of the device, slides and shifts between thegripping members in the head of the device.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide afloor cleaning device constructed to be highly maneuverable, attractivein appearance and efiicient in performance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mop holdercharacterized by a long service life, durability and highly satisfactoryperformance.

A further object of this invention is to provide a floor mop ofeflicient, inexpensive constluction designed for convenient manipulationand positive securement of the mop fabric.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description, which is given primarily for purposes ofillustration, and not limitation.

Stated in general terms, the objects of the invention are attained byproviding a floor cleaning device which includes an elongate body memberand a correspondingly elongate holding member. Both the body member andthe holding member have top portions and generally diverging downwardiyextending side portions arranged so that the holding member fits snuglyunder the body memher, and generally conforms therewith. A cleaningelement or mop fabric is tightly gripped and clamped between the bodymember and the hold-ing member under pressure of resilient hook meansfixed to one end of the holding member for engagement with one end ofthe body mem-- her, and resilient clamp means fixed to the other end ofthe holding member for engagement with the other end of the body member.The top portion of the holding member, or the top portion of the bodymember, is provided with dimples to insure gripping and securely fixingthe cleaning element in the head of the cleaning device.

A more detailed description of a specific embodiment of the floorcleaning device and holder of the invention is given below withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing an assembled dust mop of theinvention;

FIG. 1(a.) is a plane view of the mophandle in its socket;

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevational view showing the holder or head ofthe dust mop attached to a handle;

*FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but in vertical section,showing the holding piece clamped to the body or block.

FIG. 4 is a cross-'sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 butwith the mop fabric added thereto;

FIG. 5 is a similar view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, showing theconnection between the mop head and handle; and

:FIG. 6 is a partial detail plan view of the body or block taken alongline 6-6 of FIG. 3 showing attachment means formed thereon.

The body or block 10 includes a horizontal top portion 11, integral sideportions 12 and 13 converging toward the top portion 11, horizontalbottom portions 14 and 15 and vertical flange portions 16 and 17 formingenclosures around bottom portions 14 and 15, respectively. The block 10,as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, has a generally trapezoid verticalcross-sectional configuration With respect to top portion 11, sideportions 12 and 13 and bottom portions 14 and 15. Spaced holes 18 and 19(FIG. 4) are formed through bottom portions 14 and 15, respectively fortransmitting liquid treatment materials, such as cleaning fluids orliquid waxing compositions, when poured by the user into the channels 26and 21, onto the mop fabric 22 for application to the floor beingcleaned or waxed. Body or block 10 preferably is made of high strengthplastic material, but can be made of suitable metals.

A trunnion 25 composed of bearings 26 and 27 iS mounted on top ofhorizontal top portion 1-1 of block 10. Bearing 26 is provided with adownwardly extending anchor pin 28. Pin 28 is provided with an annularend groove 29 fitted with a snap ring 30 to attach bearing 26 to the topof block 10. Pin 28 also is provided with a transversely extending key31. Pin 28, including key 31, are dimensioned to fit snugly in a hole 32in block 10, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Key 31 fixes pin 28 inblock 10 against horizontal rotation in hole 32. Bearing 27 is similarlyattached against vertical movement or horizontal rotation in block 10 bypin 35', end groove 36, snap ring 37 and key 38 in hole 39. Trunnion 25also can be made of suitable high strength plastic material or suitablemetals.

A journal member 4 1 is provided with aligned axle portions 42 and 4-3rotatably mounted in bearings 26 and 27, respectively, of trunnion 25.Journal member 41 also is provided with a hole or hearing 44. Thecentral axis 45 of bearing hole 44 is perpendicular to axis 46 ofaligned axle portions 4-2 and a3, and axis 45 is spaced vertically fromaxis 46. Journal member 41 is mounted to rotate in a vertical planewhich passes through central axis 45. Journal member 4 1 is made of asuitable plastic material or a suitable metal.

A socket member 4'? is provided with a tapered portion 48 convergingdownwardly and connected to a transversely projecting journal 49.Journal 49 is rotatably fitted in bearing hole 44 and is retainedtherein by retaining ring 50 and a pin 51 passed through ring 50 and theend of journal 4?. Socket member 47 also is provided with a supportsocket portion 52 adapted to tightly receive therein the lower end of amop handle 53. Thus socket member 47 is adapted to rotate both in avertical plane and in radial planes passing through trunnion 25. Socketmember 47 can be made of suitable plastic material or metals. Supportsocket portion 52 is suitably shaped to receive straight, tapered,threaded, or other types of handle ends.

pin for securing the the socket; other means may be used for attachingthe,

handle in the socket.

The mop fabric holding member or holding piece 55 is made to firmly holdor grip the mop fabric 22; between the holding piece and body or blockIll in the mop head.

Holding piece 55 is of trapezoid vertical cross-sectional configurationwhich conforms with that of block illl and includes a horizontal topportion as and integral side portions 57 and 58 converging toward thetop portion 56. Horizontal top portion 56 of the holding piece isprovided with longitudinally spaced upwardly projecting dimples 59 whichtightly grip mop fabric 22 and fix it in position in the mop head sothat it will not slide or shift between block 10 and holding piece 55.Holding piece 55 is provided at one end with a spring hook so and at theother end with a spring clamp 61. Spring clamp 61 is attached to theholding piece 55 by having one end 61a of the spring clarnp passingthrough an opening 55a, which is formed in the holding piece 5d adjacentone end thereof, crimped or bent to form a loop sufficiently closed topermit inadvertent separation of the spring clamp 61 to pivot about theend of said holding piece 55. Mop fabric 22 is clamped between block andholding piece 55 by hooking spring hook of? around one end of block 16until spring hook 60 is seated within the notch 69, see FIG. 3, formedin one end of the horizontal top portion 11 and clamping the other endof the block with spring clamp 61 until corresponding portions of thespring clamp 61 are seated within notch 79 and recess 71 formed in theopposite end of the horizontal top portion ll, as shown. By simplyreversing this simple operation, mop fabric 22 is readily removed fromthe mop holder or head without the use of auxiliary tools, fasteners orother hardware. No eyelets are used in mop fabric 22 through whichfasteners are used in some mops. Holding piece 55 can be made of strongplastic material but preferably is made of suitable metals. If steel isused, it should be suitably plated for long service life and richappearance.

In operation, the user, while grasping mop handle 53, directs the motionof the mop with a minimum of effort in any direction in either straightline motion or curved motion. In straight line motion journal member 41easily rotates in a vertical plane which passes through central axis 45of hole 44 while axle portions 42 and 43 rotate or oscillate back andforth in bearings 26 and 27, respectively, of trunnion 25 with minimumfriction. When the mop is directed into curved path motion, journal d9of socket member 47 easily and smoothly turns in hole 44 of journalmember 41 to accommodate the degree of curved motion of the mop. As aresult, the mop shows not the slightest tendency to yaw or fish-tailduring straight line or curved motion.

When it is desired to apply cleaning fluid or a liquid wax compositionto the floor, the fluid or liquid is poured in limited quantity intochannels and 21 just before the mop is put into motion. As pointed outhereinabove, mop fabric 22 is readily detached and replaced largelybecause no eyelets are used in the fabric. Thus no fasteners need bealigned with such eyelets in fastening mop fabric 22 in the mop head andno such fasteners need be released when the mop fabric is removed fromthe mop head. The attachment and detachment means simply consist ofeasily and rapidly hand-manipulated spring hook 69 and spring clamp 61together with dimples 59.

It will be understood that the trapezoidal cross-section of block 10 andholding piece 55 can be varied. That is, other cross-sectionalconfigurations can be used. The trunnion and journal member 41 can beattached to block 10 by the use of any suitable means, including makingbearings 26 and 27 integral with the block. Similarly, the structure orconstruction of socket member 47 can be modified or varied to aconsiderable extent. Dimples 59 could be formed on the top portion 11 ofblock it) instead of, or in addition to the top portion 56 of holdingpiece 55. Many other modifications and variations of the floor cleaningdevice, mop and mop holder of the present invention are possible in thelight of the teachings given hereinabove. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the

invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A floor cleaning device comprising an elongate body member having atop portion and generally diverging downwardly extending side portions,an elongate holding member having a top portion and generally divergingdownwardly extending side portions generally conforming with thecorresponding portions of the body member, a cleaning element disposedbeneath the body member and extending outwardly of said body and holdingmemher, a resilienthook means fixed to one end of the holding member forengagement with one end of the body member, a resilient clamp meansfixed to the other end of the holding member for engagement with theother end of the body member, and dimple means formed on the top portionof the holding member for gripping and clamp ing the cleaning elementunder pressure of the resilient hook and clamp means between the bodyand holding members.

2. A floor mop comprising an elongate body member having a top portionand generally diverging downwardly extending side portions producing agenerally trapezoid cross-sectional configuration, an elongate holdingmember having a top portion and generally diverging downwardly extendingside portions producing a generally trapezoid cross-sectionalconfiguration generally conforming with the corresponding configurationof the body member, a mop fabric element disposed beneath the bodymember and extending outwardly of said body and holding member, aresilient hook means fixed to one end of the holding member forengagement with one end of the body member, a resilient clamp meansfixed to the other end of the holding member for engagement with theother end of the body member, dimple means formed on the top portion ofthe holding member for gripping and clamping the mop fabric elementunder pressure of the resilient hook and clamp means between the bodyand holding members, trunnion means mounted on the top portion of thebody member, and mop handle socket means cooperatively connected to thetrunnion means for establishing rotary motion of the socket means bothin a vertical plane and in radial planespassing through the axis of thetrunnion means.

3. A floor mop comprising-an elongate body member having a top portionand generally diverging downwardly extending side portions producing agenerally trapezoid cross-sectional configuration, elongate horizontalbottom portions forming extensions of said side portions of the bodymember provided with spaced holes, vertical flange portions formedaround said bottom portions forming enclosures therearound for theintroduction of liquid compositions for flow through said spaced holes,an elongate holding member having a top portion and generally divergingdownwardly extending side portions producing a generally trapezoidcross-sectional configuration generally conforming with thecorresponding configuration of the body member, a mop fabric elementdisposed beneath the body member and extending outwardly of said bodyand holding member, a resilient hook means fixed to one end of theholding member for engagement with one end of the body member, aresilient clamp means fixed to the other end of the holding member forengagement with the other end of the body member, dimple means formed onthe top portion of the holding member for gripping and clamping the mopfabric element under pressure of the resilient hook and clamp meansbetween the body and holding members, trunnion means mounted on the topportion of the body member, axle means mounted in bearing elements ofthe trunnion means for rotation therein in a vertical plane, bearinghole means connected With the axle means, journal means mounted in thebearing hole means, and mop handle socket means connected to the journalmeans for rotation both in a vertical plane References Cited by theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS Duncan 15-151 Froberg 15-150 Gauch.

Hillyard 15-2291 Warden 15-153 X and in radial planes passing throughthe axis of the axle 10 CHARLES WILLMUTH Primary Examiner means.

3. A FLOOR MOP COMPRISING AN ELONGATE BODY MEMBER HAVING A TOP PORTIONAND GENERALLY DIVERGING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE PORTIONS PRODUCING AGENERALLY TRAPEZOID CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION, ELONGATE HORIZONTALBOTTOM PORTIONS FORMING EXTENSIONS OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS OF THE BODYMEMBER PROVIDED WITH SPACED HOLES, VERTICAL FLANGE PORTIONS FORMEDAROUND SAID BOTTOM PORTIONS FORMING ENCLOSURES THEREAROUND FOR THEINTRODUCTION OF LIQUID COMPOSITIONS FOR FLOW THROUGH SAID SPACED HOLES,AN ELONGATE HOLDING MEMBER HAVING A TOP PORTION AND GENERALLY DIVERGINGDOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE PORTIONS PRODUCING A GENERALLY TRAPEZOIDCROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION GENERALLY CONFORMING WITH THECORRESPONDING CONFIGURATION OF THE BODY MEMBER, A MOP FABRIC ELEMENTDISPOSED BENEATH THE BODY MEMBER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID BODYAND HOLDING MEMBER, A RESILIENT HOOK MEANS FIXED TO ONE END OF THEHOLDING MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE END OF THE BODY MEMBER, ARESILIENT CLAMP MEANS FIXED TO THE OTHER END OF THE HOLDING MEMBER FORENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER END OF THE BODY MEMBER, DIMPLE MEANS FORMED ONTHE TOP PORTION OF THE HOLDING MEMBER FOR GRIPPING AND CLAMPING THE MOPFABRIC ELEMENT UNDER PRESSURE OF THE RESILIENT HOOK AND CLAMP MEANSBETWEEN THE BODY AND HOLDING MEMBERS, TRUNNION MEANS MOUNTED ON THE TOPPORTION OF THE BODY MEMBER, AXLE MEANS MOUNTED IN BEARING ELEMENTS OFTHE TRUNNION MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREIN IN A VERTICAL PLANE, BEARINGHOLE MEANS CONNECTED WITH THE AXLE MEANS, JOURNAL MEANS MOUNTED IN THEBEARING HOLE MEANS, AND MOP HANDLE SOCKET MEANS CONNECTED TO THE JOURNALMEANS FOR ROTATION BOTH IN A VERTICAL PLANE AND IN RADIAL PLANES PASSINGTHROUGH THE AXIS OF THE AXLE MEANS.